West Virginia Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

According to the American Psychological Association, more than two million American elders are abuse victims. As West Virginia nursing home abuse attorneys, we know the vast majority of people love their dear elders and would do anything for them. These elders are the beloved mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, and special dear ones who took care of us when we were younger. Now, they are old and frail and are in retirement and nursing homes, supposedly receiving the special medical and personal care that they need on a daily basis. However, this isn’t always the case. Elder abuse may occur in any type of retirement facility:

Long-term care facility

Rehabilitation centers

Old-age centers

Residential treatment and care facility

Community integrated living arrangement

Assisted living or shared housing facility

Supported living facility

Adult living facilities

Nursing homes

All other homes to elders

If you believe your elderly loved one is being mistreated in a retirement facility, it is up to you to take the necessary action to help them. If they are being abused, it essential to make sure the abuse stops or to move them to another facility. Additionally, you may seek compensation for them by contacting a personal injury attorney in West Virginia. Tiano O’Dell, PLLC is committed to protecting the rights of individuals who have been harmed by the intentional or negligent actions of others.

West Virginia Nursing Home Laws

In West Virginia, all nursing home facilities must adhere to federal standards of care as well as state regulations. When facilities fail to exercise a reasonable and compliant standard of care, they open the door for nursing home negligence and abuse. In West Virginia, notable regulations and requirements state:

Certain professionals must report instances of abuse to the state Department of Health and Human Services within 48 hours of identification. These individuals include mental health professionals, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, dental professionals, nursing home employees, social workers, and religious healers.

Anyone who suspects abuse may file a report using a 24-hour hotline. Call 1-800-352-6513 to report an incident. West Virginia residents may call 1-866-241-5062 to report financial abuse. Include as many details about the situation as possible.

All nursing homes must maintain a valid state license for operation.

Nursing homes must provide every resident with an accurate and complete list of costs and provide a 30-day notice if the terms of billing change. Residents are not liable for undisclosed costs.

Nursing home directors must create and use a set of rules to investigate complaints and take action if they find instances of negligence or abuse.

Nursing home residents maintain rights including the right to be treated with respect, manage their own money, have privacy and a comfortable, home-like environment, and receive notification about their own medical care and medications.

State and federal regulations spell out, in detail, the rights of residents and responsibilities of licensed care facilities. Any facility that fails to maintain compliance and to respect the rights of residents may face regulatory fines, lose its license to operate, and face civil actions.

At Tiano O’Dell, PLLC, a seasoned West Virginia nursing home abuse lawyer can help you confirm your suspicion of nursing home abuse, file reports with appropriate state and federal agencies, and take action against negligent individuals and facilities. Nursing home laws exist to protect you and your family from unethical practices, negligence, and abuse.

Common Root Causes of Nursing Home Abuse

Attributing nursing home abuse to malicious staff members oversimplifies the problem. In reality, many causes give rise to abusive conditions. Some people do abuse elders with malicious intent, but the following causes may also play a role in instances of nursing home abuse:

Overworked employees and understaffing. Federal and state laws govern basic staffing requirements, but these may not provide adequate care for elders at the facility. When nursing homes rely on a small group of people to tend to the needs of multiple patients, staff members start to make mistakes.
From registered nurses overseeing care to nursing aides, long hours, extensive job responsibilities, and poor staff support services all take a toll on services rendered. Over time, these conditions lead to forgetfulness, negligence, and unidentified instances of malicious abuse.

Poor training programs. Aside from registered nurses and physicians, nursing home employees may include a mixture of skilled and unskilled workers. In an effort to cut costs, some facilities may only invest in the minimum requirements for training. Poorly trained employees make mistakes and may provide inadequate care.

Careless hiring. Americans currently face the largest elder population that the country has ever seen. As more baby boomers age and life expectancies continue to lengthen, nursing homes often struggle with supply and demand. Nursing home work is tough, and facilities need to hire employees as quickly as possible. As a result, management may not vet each candidate properly before offering a job.

Lack of oversight. In a tightly managed nursing home facility, employees who begin to demonstrate signs of negligence or abuse do not last long at the facility. Inadequate training, negligent hiring, and negligent internal promotions may prevent facilities from identifying and handling malicious employees.

Pharmaceutical mismanagement. In addition to clothing, feeding, and assisting residents as needed, nursing home facilities administer medications. When employees make mistakes, purposefully overdose, or under-provide medications, elders may suffer injuries or die. The wrong blood pressure medication can severely drop or raise blood pressure to the point of crisis. Many elders take several medications requiring careful and regular dosing.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Causes of nursing home abuse explain why instances of abuse may take place, but they fail to explore the impact of abuse on a nursing home resident’s life. The type of nursing home abuse may affect an elder’s emotional and physical experience, long-term prognosis, and financial stability. Family members should and facility employees must report any of the following types of abuse to facility management and relevant state/federal agencies:

Financial abuse. Caregivers and third parties engage in financial abuse when they use an elder’s financial information for personal gain or manipulate elders into making purchases or providing financial support. Health care fraud, scams, and identity theft all fall under the category of financial abuse.

Emotional abuse. Some forms of elder abuse present subtle signs and symptoms. Emotional abuse often takes place over time and may include any actions or comments designed to belittle, hurt, or frighten an elderly person. Caregivers may knowingly or negligently engage in emotional abuse.

Sexual abuse. At any age, sexual abuse includes any unwanted communication or forced act involving sexual content. Forcing an elder to watch pornography, making lewd comments, rape, and molestation all fall under the category of sexual abuse.

Neglect. Inaction and thoughtless caretaking can both harm an elder as much as purposeful abuse. When caretakers fail to or imprecisely fulfill an elder’s needs (e.g. providing food, shelter, and basic hygiene), they are guilty of neglect.

Each type of abuse can lead to permanent adverse health outcomes for elderly individuals and their families. In the final years of life, nobody deserves to fear their caretakers or suffer needlessly at their hands. Carefully choose your loved one’s nursing home facility, and watch out for these types of nursing home abuse. If you suspect the abuse of a loved one, consult a compassionate West Virginia nursing home abuse attorney to learn more about your available legal options.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

The first step in combatting nursing home abuse is identifying its presence. This step often takes patience and perseverance. Elder abusers may cover up the signs of their abuse, threaten their charges, and put on a friendly and charming face when family members arrive. Frightened and embarrassed elders may refuse to open up about their experiences. A few signs may indicate the presence of elder abuse, even in the absence of obvious symptoms:

Caretakers fail to provide plausible explanations for injuries. Occasionally an elder may suffer an unavoidable or accidental injury. If bruising, lacerations, and fractures do not reasonably match the elder’s and the caretaker’s explanation, elder abuse may have played a role in the injury.

The elder’s personality changes in ways that do not match up with current medical conditions. Some personality changes will occur if an elder experiences dementia or other cognitive disorders. If you notice a typically clear-minded elder avoid eye contact, act fearful around caretakers, or engage in dementia-like actions (such as rocking back and forth) investigate the reason behind the change.

The facility looks dirty and the elder appears unhygienic. Nursing home facilities should provide a clean and safe atmosphere for their residents and provide adequate hygiene and sanitation services. Dirty rooms, unwashed linens, bed sores, and a persistent, unpleasant odor may all indicate neglect.

An elder’s lab results or treatments involve unexplained STIs. The presence of a sexually transmitted infection or injuries to the genitals often serve as red flags of sexual abuse.

You notice unusual financial activity. Family members may see unusual bank account and credit card transactions if they have access to the information. In the absence of these signs, a new friend who spends an unusual amount of time with the elder and an elder’s report of financial insolvency may point to financial exploitation.

If you notice anything in a health care facility that makes you feel uncomfortable, ask questions and do some research. Any change in behavior, care, or financial activity may signal elder abuse. At Tiano O’Dell, PLLC, our attorneys can help you investigate the claim and hold the responsible abusers accountable.

Consult a Charleston, WV Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing homes and adult facilities have a duty to provide professional and safe care for their residents. Elders need special attention. They count on the professional staff to take care of them. When this duty is breached and a wrong is committed, a case of negligence may be made. If the abuse is intentional or extreme, your lawyers may seek punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. The attorneys at Tiano O’Dell, PLLC have been recognized as West Virginia Super Lawyers and Top 100 Trial Lawyers. They have the legal skills and personal commitment to help you and your dear elder. There are no fees unless they win your case. To schedule your complimentary case evaluation with a West Virginia nursing home abuse attorney, call Tiano O’Dell, PLLC at 304-720-6700.

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